Last game in the group D could have been a win, if our guys could manage to keep the ball longer in offense and make the opponent run after the ball. The game was decisive as three teams were fighting for the 4th place in the group.

The importance of this game made our squad start the 1st quarter with a high intensity in defence and run successful fast breaks, which allowed us to lead by 6 points (8-2). Our guys imposed their own rhythm and pushed the opponent to make a lot of fouls. Unfortunately, we didn't take advantage of free throws to increase the gap. So, the Macedonian team managed to get back, equalized then took the lead with 4 points (14-18), but the good defence and the rebounds of Davy David allowed us to end this quarter with a light lead at the sore of 19-18.

In the second quarter, our squad managed to hit 2 three points shots in a row. In defence, we played a 2-3 Zone to close the middle and to force the opponent to shoot. This strategy allowed our guys to increase the gap to 20 points within 5 minutes (42-22). However, missed free throws (0/7) as well as the lack of experience of our players that resulted in bad decisions or turnovers in offense allowed Macedonia to cut the deficit to 13 points at halftime (45-32)

In the 3rd quarter, Luxembourg had again the occasion to increase the gap. However, the lead was cut to 6 due to missed easy lay ups and turnovers. Luxembourg finished the quarter strongly with some good variations in offense (penetrations and 3 points shot) and the lead was back up to 10 points.

In the last quarter, our boys knew an empty passage because of tiredness and their lack of experience (missed easy lay ups, turnovers, no box out and hesitation to attack the basket). The opponent took advantage and equalized at the score of 65-65. Macedonia took the lead two minutes before the end and finally won with 71-75.

A game that could be a win for our boys who fought hard, but unfortunately they didn't succeed to achieve it .

Both teams were waiting for this game to realize the first win in the tournament.

The beginning was difficult for our squad as the Kosovo national team got the lead 0-6 within 3 minutes. Coach Basic took a time out and changed the defence which allowed our boys to steal many balls and transform it into successful fast breaks. Our squad could equalize at 11-11 and took the lead by 6 points (17-11) by the end of this quarter. The gap could have been bigger if we would have made our free throws.

In the second quarter, our boys forgot to box out and our opponent could score many easy points out of offensive rebounds. Furthermore, Kosovo got many free throws due to the high number of fouls committed by our player in defence. Still Luxembourg could keep the lead at first due to some interceptions (17-15). However, free throws allowed the team of Kosovo to get back in the game and to take the lead by 4 points at halftime (25-29).

In the 3rd quarter, Kosovo team started with a high aggressive defence and increased the gap to 10 points (35-25). But our boys found a way back and equalized again at 39-39 after some good defensive work and fast breaks. However, the easy lay-up missed (1vs 0 situation) and the 5th fouls of both Dino CEMAN and Gil RECH didn't help our coaching staff to find the balance on the court and for the 3rd game rotation was so difficult. The tall players of Kosovo succeeded to get 20 offensive rebounds, they scored 19 points out a of second chances and 25 free throws from a total of 45. These details made the difference in the game as the opponent managed to win their first game by 10 points (51-61).

For the second time, our U16 national team fails to keep the lead of the beginning of the game. The two teams started the game with a full court man to man defence. Even though Sam Wolter couldn´t play due to an injury from the first game, our squad was very motivated for this game, as the opponent had the same athletic, technical and height characteristics and could also take the lead for the first eight minutes (14-8). However, the 3rd foul of Davy Rocha (our tall center) obliged Coach Basic to substitute it. Unfortunately, Chidi got injured only shortly after his entrance on the court (ankle), which made the rotations even more difficult. Portugal git thus back in the game and took the lead at the end of the first quarter (14-17).

Our guys changed the defence into a 2-3 Zone defence to push the opponent to take shots instead of penetrating but unfortunately Portugal hit many shots from the high post. Furthermore, the4th foul of Davy made our mission even more difficult. Even though Luxembourg played well in offense, the gap could not be decreased and the Portuguese team goes to halftime with a lead of 11 points.

In the 3rd quarter, we went back to an aggressive man to man defence. With three consecutive three points shots, Luxembourg could reduce the gap to 7 points. However, our U16 boys didn’t manage to close the gap due to a lack of concentration and too many turnovers. Portugal got too many easy points out of fast breaks and offensive rebounds.

The efforts of Melchior and Kreps wasn't enough to get back in the game, as Portugal continued to play aggressive and scored out of fast breaks till the end. The game ended with a gap of 30 points (55-85)

The first game was a hard task for our national team as our opponent owns tall, strong and athletic players.

The beginning of the game was equalized, both teams played an aggressive man to man defence, which makes the mission of scoring very hard. The 2-3 Zone Defence combined with successful penetration and shooting allowed us to take a lead of 8 points in the first quarter. However, the injury of Sam Wolter put the coach Basic in a bad situation. The guards had difficulties against the high pressure of the British defence (due to the absence of rotations), but our young players managed to end the first quarter leading by 5 points (13-18).

In the second quarter, our squad had difficulties in offense, hesitation made us lose too many balls. The British team took advantages of the turnovers and scored 4 times in a row from the 3 points line to increase the gap to 13 points at halftime (33-20).

The last two quarters were similar to the second one, our opponent kept scoring out of fast breaks and behind the 3 points line while we were struggling in front of their defence. Hesitation in offense and boxing out in defence were our weak points that didn’t allow us to find a way back in the game.

After the U18 Men and Women, the U16 Men travel to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, where they are going to compete with other 23 national teams the European championship from August 10th to August 19th.

The team consists of some players that has already played in this competition and players who will live their first European experience.

After a varied preparation which consisted of camps (Wiltz, Mersch), tournaments (Dussmann Trophy) and exchanges (Belgium, Slovakia and Cyprus) the boys of Kresimir BASIC and Chris WULFF seems to be ready for this event.

The U16 Men arrived safe yesterday afternoon in Sofia and had a light practice in the evening. Except some minor injuries, the squad looks in shape, has a great atmosphere and expressed their willing to defend the colours of Luxembourg in a good way. The team will do their best to win as many games as possible in order to reach a better ranking than the years before.

The squad will play in the group D with Kosovo, Great Britain, Georgia, Macedonia and Portugal.